Sea weed drama for ‘Home and Away’ star
30 March 2010
AAP - A FORMER Home and Away television actor has pleaded not guilty to possessing almost half a kilogram of marijuana on a sail boat surfing charter to PNG.
Putu Winchester, 33, who played a surfer named Pongo in the
popular Australian TV series, was arrested in
Friends of the NSW men believe the quantity is closer to 47 grams, claiming a recording error when local police weighed the alleged stash at the Buka post office.
Perenti captain, Queenslander Michael Northcote, 46, is
waiting for a lawyer to fly from
PNG customs officers seized Mr Northcote's boat and AAP understands customs and immigration infringements may follow.
The ‘Perenti Five’ were en route from the
According to the RASTA website, the Perenti has sailed the Pacific on surfing tours for the past eight years.
The website advertises: "Sail aboard Perenti, where you will find the surf of your dreams".
But those dreams turned into a nightmare when
Since late last week, when the Buka court granted them each K1,000 ($400) bail, they have been staying at a local hotel.
ALOYSIUS LAUKAI reports from Buka:
A case against five Australians charged with illegally entering the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and having in their possession the dangerous drug marijuana has been adjourned for the third time to allow lawyer for the captain to arrive in Buka.
The men were arrested on board the yacht, Perenti, in
waters off Wakunai in central
No plea was entered and the court adjourned their case to 9.30 am today.
Do you know what happened to these guys? I read somewhere that it may have been dismissed because the police who searched the boat were under the influence of alcohol at the time?
Posted by: Anna | 07 April 2010 at 02:12 PM